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Bichel and Johnson join Essex

Essex have signed the Australian fast bowlers Andrew Bichel and Mitchell Johnson ahead of the new season

Cricinfo staff
07-Mar-2006


Andy Bichel will be appearing for his third county when he joins Essex © Getty Images
Essex have signed the Australian fast bowlers Andrew Bichel and Mitchell Johnson ahead of the new season. They will share the second overseas player duties, complementing the New Zealand allrounder Andre Adams who is returning to Essex for his second full season.
Bichel, 35, is currently the second-highest wicket taker in the Pura Cup with 43 victims at 25 apiece. He joins Essex after a successful county stint with Worcestershire between 2001 and 2004 and a short period with Hampshire in 2005.
Johnson, 24, has forced his way into the Australian one-day squad since the start of the year and played in the first ODI against South Africa on the current tour. He has been described by Dennis Lillee as a 'once in a generation bowler' but has be plagued by injuries through his short career. In this year's Pura Cup he has 18 wickets at 30 and has impressed with his sharp pace.
The Essex chief executive, David East, told essexcricket.org.uk: "We are delighted that Mitchell Johnson and Andy Bichel are going to be performing a double-act in our second overseas slot.
"Johnson may be largely an unknown quantity here but is highly-regarded as far as the intelligence goes from our sources. They rate him extremely highly and he is up there with some of the brightest prospects in Australia.
"Bichel is a tried and trusted international and county performer and we are hoping when he arrives mid-summer he'll start making some match-winning contributions straight away."
The captain, Ronnie Irani, added: "In combination we've gone with a young, inexperienced, raw player with massive potential in Johnson and experience with Bichel who knows what he is doing and can give it a whack with the bat as well."
Johnson will be available from the start of the season until June 17, when he will return to Australia for A team commitments, and will be replaced by Bichel until September 14.